Gowdy steps down from Ethics Committee, citing 'challenging workload'

Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.) has resigned from his post on the House Ethics Committee, citing a challenging workload that also includes his chairmanship on the powerful House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.

In a letter to Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) dated Jan. 10, Gowdy said that he would "treasure" his experience on the Ethics panel, but acknowledged that it was difficult balancing that assignment with his work on other committees.

"When I became Chairperson of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform I knew I would not be able to keep all other committee assignments to include Judiciary, Intelligence and Ethics," Gowdy wrote.

"Four committee assignments, including a Chairmanship, is a challenging workload," the letter said.

Gowdy said that he wanted to finish out 2017 before tendering his resignation from the Ethics Committee.

Gowdy took over as chairman of the Oversight Committee in June after the panel's previous chair, former Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah), retired from the House.

"Mr. Gowdy was serving on four committees when he ran for Chair of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee. He requested to be relieved of his duties from the Ethics Committee should he win chairmanship given the significant increased workload," AshLee Strong, a spokeswoman for Ryan said in a statement.

"We are grateful for his five years of service on the Ethics Committee and for agreeing to serve the remainder of the calendar year," she added.